Don Freeman (1908-1978) supported himself through art school by playing the trumpet. He was introduced to the world of children's literature when William Saroyan asked him to illustrate several books. Soon after, he began to write and illustrate his own book - a career he settled into comfortably and happily. He created many beloved characters over his long and successful career, perhaps the most beloved among them a stuffed, overall-wearing bear, named Corduroy.